Over 140 staff in Glasgow started the first in a series of 24-hour strikes today as the polls opened for the General Election.

At 8am members of the Unite union downed tools at Newsquest’s Herald and Times Group in a row over a pay freeze.

Print and production workers at the newspaper group were joined by clerical and advertising staff on the picket line although the company remains defiant that the strike will not affect publication of The Herald and Evening Times.

Unite says that its members are striking because hey are being denied a pay rise for the second year running and wants Newsquest to return to the negotiating table with a sensible offer.

Unite regional officer Norman King said: “Our members are angry that they are being forced to accept a pay freeze for the second year running despite Glasgow Herald and the Evening Times posting profits.

“Our members do not want to be striking, but feel they have been left with no choice by a management that refuse to properly negotiate.”

Herald and Times Group MD Tim Blott said: “Unite are insistent upon instigating industrial action across the UK. I am deeply disappointed that our staff have been drawn into this.

“It is still a difficult and uncertain time for us and many others in the media where overall revenues are still performing below last year.

“I have committed to review salaries as and when trading improves. In the meantime our newspapers will continue to be published, unaffected by this dispute.”